An Invitation and opportunity to practice Zen in India

The Indosan Sogenji Zen Monastery has been established in the city of Bijapur, Karnataka State, India, under the guidance of Zen master Venerable Shodo Harada Roshi, Head Abbot of Gokokuzan Sogenji, Okayama City, Japan.

Every year in the month of August Harada Roshi visits Indosan Sogenji to conduct osesshin and jukai ceremonies.

This monastery is open to practitioners of all walks of life who intend to practice the koan zen of Hakuin Zenji (Rinzai School) lineage. All are welcome.

Arrangements can be made for partial attendance on a case-by-case basis.  The standard rules and regulations of the Zen monastic environment in Japan will be followed.  There will be sesshins every month.

The Gendai Indo Kenkyu

Constitutional Awareness Program

Bodai Shin Okoshimasho Kai

Visit to India by The Sogenji Research Group
February 15th to February 22nd 2010

The Sogen-Ji Research Group, Bodai Shin Okoshimasho Kai, is a Sunday zazenkai lay meeting that convenes at Sogenji Zen monastery in Okayama City, Japan.

Representatives of the Buddhist lay people who comprise the group have been visiting India under the guidance of Zen Master Shodo Harada, Roshi since 2008. This year Mr. Matsuo Naokazu, Mr. Yamauchi, and Mrs. Shimozaki represented the group in India.

On the 15th of February at 10:30 PM the representatives arrived in Hyderabad, India traveling from Japan via Bangkok. On the 16th of February after a short sightseeing tour of Hyderabad City, the representatives traveled to Charminar and viewed the four famous minarets, then went on to see the 350 ton white granite Buddha statue in the Hussain Sagar Lake.

From Hyderabad the representatives journeyed to Adilabad where the group met and interacted with Buddhist people. While at Adilabad the group visited a mountain where local people want to donate land for the purpose of establishing a Zendo. That evening the group visited a Kolhari village where last year the villagers became Buddhist under the guidance of Zen monk Shaku Bodhidhamma. As a result of this conversion the whole village became alcohol free.

Buddhist women and children in Kolhari Village.

On the morning of February17th the representatives proceeded to Nagpur city in Maharashatra State. Nagpur city is a Buddhist center about 200km from Adilabad. Nagpur City was where Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the emancipator of downtrodden people and the father of the Indian Constitution Embraced Buddhism with 500,000 people. This area is referred to as a land of revival for Buddhism in India. Every year in October on the Vijay Dashami more than 150,0000 people gather to pay homage to their beloved leader the Bodhisattva, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The group visited a place known as Diksha Bhumi named in honor of the historic mass conversion. In Diksha Bhumi there is a huge stupa and the Dr. Ambedkar College.

On the 18th of February the group arrived at the village of Mansar, about 40km away from Nagpur City, where there is an ancient Buddhist site about 2200 years old. The next stop on the itinerary was Nagarjun Mountain where Ven. Sasai Shonin has built a huge Buddha Vihara. It is said that the Bodhisatva Nagarjuna lived in the range of mountains around this area that is famous in Mahayana Buddhism. In the evening the group journeyed to Ajanta, Ellora for sightseeing.

Distributing presents to local children.